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Last year the small island state of Singapore was granted self-government by Britain - this year the country celebrated its first National Day with a four-day festival, starting June 4.

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Background: Last year the small island state of Singapore was granted self-government by Britain - this year the country celebrated its first National Day with a four-day festival, starting June 4. The celebrations got under way a day late due to a tropical rain storm. The Ministry of Culture staged a carnival attended by about 25,000 islanders, at which the guest of honour was Head of State, Inche Yusof. Before making a tour of the sideshows, Mr Yusof opened the carnival by releasing a bunch of balloons.

Joining in the fun was the islands Premier Lee Kuan Yew and Minister of Home Affairs Ong Pang Boon. The two leaders mixed with the crowd and tried their skill at several side stalls. In the evening the highlight of the festival was a tattoo, which presented several hundred school children in a series of folk dances, During the festival several concerts will be held to collect funds for a national theatre. To mark the occasion a special postage stamp has been printed.

Singapore manages all its own internal affairs, but matters of defence and foreign affairs are still in the hands of the British Government.